Learning about time with Wee Willie Winkie

In this kindergarten lesson plan, students use the nursery rhyme "Wee Willie Winkie" as a starting point to learn about time.

A lesson plan for grades K–1 Healthful Living and Mathematics

By Lisa Wright

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Mother Goose in use: Rhymes that teach

This collection of kindergarten lesson plans uses classic nursery rhymes to teach curriculum objectives in math, English language arts, science, and healthful living.

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• Learn more about health, mathematics, measurement, nursery rhymes, read-alouds, and time.

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Learning outcomes

• Students will become familiar with words related to time.
• Students will gain an understanding of how a clock helps people tell the time.
• Students will practice non-locomotor movements using their arms.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

40 minutes

Materials needed

• Optional: play clock
• Recording of “Wee Willie Winkie” from nursery rhyme CD, such as 100 Songs for Kids or text version from nursery rhyme book
• Nursery Rhyme Flip Chart or large chart paper with the nursery rhyme “Wee Willie Winkie” written on it

Pre-activities

• If you’re not using a flip chart, write the nursery rhyme on chart paper for students to see.

Activities

1. Anticipatory set: Ask students what their bedtime is. Ask why they have a bedtime.
2. Play the recording of “Wee Willie Winkie,” or read the rhyme to the class.
3. Have the students recite the rhyme with you as they read from the chart.
4. Ask the students to name words that have to do with time. (Year, month, minute, second, hour, night, day, week.) Discuss what each word means.
5. Demonstrate for students how to show 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock with your arms. If you have a play clock in your classroom, you may also show them the times on the clock. Have the students stand and mimic the actions.
6. Sing the following song to the tune of “Wheels on the Bus” while students pretend to be a clock and make the actions:
   

   The hands on the clock go round and round,
   Round and round, round and round.
   The hands on the clock go round and round.
   To tell us the time.
   
   The short hand on the clock
   Goes from number to number,
   Number to number, number to number.
   The short hand on the clock
   Goes from number to number.
   To tell us the time.
   
   The long hand on the clock
   Goes around by fives,
   Around by fives, around by fives.
   The long hand on the clock
   Goes around by fives.
   To tell us the minutes.

7. Read the book The Napping House to the class.
8. Conclude the lesson by asking students the following questions:
   • What types of light do people use when it is dark out?
   • Can you think of another nursery rhyme that has a clock in it? (”Hickory Dickory Dock”)

Assessment

Assess by students’ participation in the discussion about words related to time. Take note of whether students correctly move their body to make the time on a clock.